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Today's News - Monday, December 9, 2013

42-year-old Timothy Bruce of the Ashville area was shot to death while deer hunting Saturday afternoon in Cambria County. His death has been ruled accidental. The coroner says Bruce was with a group of people on private property along Seestown Road in Adams Township. One of the hunter’s guns went off and hit Bruce in the abdomen.

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37-year-old Jody Peterman, of Somerset, was arrested Saturday morning for kidnapping and aggravated assault. According to “The Daily American,” Peterman allegedly began the assault on a 31-year-old woman at about 10 a.m., pulling her hair and threatening her with a knife. He transported the woman to a rural cabin in Stonycreek Township where she was able to escape.

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Locked out Penelec workers will meet with parent company First Energy at 10 a.m. this morning. Employees and their families picketed on Logan Valley Boulevard in Altoonaon Saturday. The workers have been locked out for two weeks after their union voted down a final contract offer.

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20-year-old Shaliek Green’s trial was to begin today in Cambria County Court. Instead, the Johnstown man has pleaded guilty in the murder of Joshua Price at his home on Cypress Avenue back in February. After the shooting, Greene fled and was later picked up at a home on Von Lunen Road. Police say Greene was dating Price’s girlfriend's mother at the time. His sentencing is scheduling for January 27th.

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Thanksgiving came later this year and that's hurt the Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringers. It means a later start to collecting donations. The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division says it had raised nearly $886 thousand last year by this time but this year it's almost $578 thousand. The collection continues with a goal in 28 counties in Western Pennsylvania around $2.7 million.

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Every living American president except one will attend tomorrow's memorial for former South African President Nelson Mandela. President Obama is due to leave the White House later on this morning. He'll be joined by former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, along with dozens of other heads of state at the service in Johannesburg. The only U.S. president not going is 89-year-old George H.W. Bush.

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Temperatures are expected to rise today on the East Coast once a winter storm passes. The National Weather Service says New York City, Philadelphia and Washington will feel the effects of falling snow or freezing rain. Any accumulations are expected to melt after the morning commute.

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Congress may be close to finalizing a budget deal. The "Washington Post" reports House and Senate negotiators on Sunday were dotting the i's and crossing the t's on what would be the first budget agreement since 2011. Negotiators are trying to avoid another government shutdown.

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The world's largest air carrier is becoming a reality. American Airlines and US Airways officially merge today to become American Airlines Group Inc. or the new American. The merger will translate into more destinations, an upgraded frequent flier program and an array of newer, fuel-efficient aircraft.

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Jury selection begins today in the murder trial of a Montana woman accused of pushing her newlywed husband off a cliff. Jordan Graham is charged with killing Cody Johnson after just eight days of marriage.

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Some of the world's technology giants are joining forces to form an anti-snooping group. Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, LinkedIn and AOL announced the Reform Government Surveillance coalition late Sunday. The group wants to limit the federal government's authority to collect user information.

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More giants of the deep are dying in south Florida. Eleven more pilot whales have been discovered dead in the lower Florida Keys. The group found Sunday is believed to be part of a pod of 51 which became stranded there last week.

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Thirteen hackers from the group known as Anonymous are entering guilty pleas to charges they carried out a 2010 cyberattack against PayPal. The distributed denial of service attack came in response to the online payment processing company suspending a WikiLeaks account after that organization put a large number of classified documents online.

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Those closest to the Reverend Billy Graham are keeping a close eye on his health these days. A spokesman for famed evangelist says he's been much weaker since turning 95 last month. -0-

A man who gained national attention when he cut off his own arm after being trapped on a hike in Utah is facing domestic violence charges in Denver. Aron Ralston was arrested early Sunday morning and has a court appearance set for this afternoon.

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There's a chance for some Pittsburgh area resident to start the new year with a very large Powerball jackpot. Wednesday's drawing will be for an estimated $122 million with a lump sum cash option of nearly $68 million.

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A newly-married Pennsylvania couple is being charged in a bizarre murder case. Police tell CNN Miranda and Elytte Barbour just wanted to kill someone together. That's when they allegedly contacted the victim, Troy LaFerrara, through a Craigslist posting. The couple is accused of strangling and stabbing the man to death.

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Drivers are paying a little more at the pump than a few weeks ago. According to the latest Lundberg survey, gas prices have risen almost three cents in the last two weeks and the average for regular now stands at $3.28. Los Angeles is paying the most with gas averaging $3.61, while drivers in Tulsa, Oklahoma are paying the lowest at $2.84.

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"Fast and Furious" actor Paul Walker is being remembered in a special way. Several thousand fans, including some in souped-up cars, drove on Sunday to where Walker was killed in a fiery crash north of L.A. two weeks ago.

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Fans and friends of the late John Lennon continue to remember the rock legend on the anniversary of his death. A public gathering was scheduled for Sunday in front of the Capitol Records building in Los Angeles, near the former Beatle's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And in Lennon's hometown of Liverpool, England, The Beatles Story museum hosted the fourth annual John Lennon Peace Vigil. John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8th, 1980 outside of his New York City apartment building.